Planning a school fundraising event can make a grown person cry. Here are seven things that you can do that will help make your planning job go smoothly.
1.) Plan for Success
Efficient planning is an integral part to the success of not only your fundraising campaign but any project you might think of. Without a well thought out plan of action chaos will reign and your project will suffer as a result. In fact, you should have a primary plan as well as a secondary and tertiary as well.
2.) There can be Only One!
It might seem obvious, but, too many chiefs and not enough Indians is a recipe for failure. There really should be only one person is coordinates all the different parts of the planning process for things to gell correctly.
3.) Delegate Responsibility
Give specific tasks to people that you have confidence and trust to get the job completed. When you do your planning create a list of tasks that have to be accomplished and choose the right personnel for each task. Ensure that each of your chosen staff understands that accountability for their assigned task and the buck stops with them.
4.) Promotion is Very Important
Get the word out about your fundraiser. Proper promotion of your event will ensure that you reach your goal. Send out notices to local newspaper and radio stations. Don't forget your own school web page is a great way to post your fundraiser and get the word out about it. The type of fundraiser you are planning will dictate if making flyers and asking local business to put them in their store windows would be helpful. There are a variety of ways to promote your fundraiser and you should take advantage of as many as possible.
5.) Pre-Selling Make a Difference
This tactic will work effectively for any type of fundraising event. If your event is a dance, dinner, guest speaker, or other ticketed type of event you must pre-sell your tickets. Start the revenue stream long before the actual event. When items such as cookie dough are your main product line, start mentioning it to friends, family, and neighbors ahead of time.
6.) Multiple Income Streams
Do not put all of your eggs in one basket. Multiple income streams have been a recipe for success in business for many years and you should be running your fundraiser just like a business. If all of your efforts are concentrated in only one program, then your market may become saturated. You might even have another nearby school start the same thing your were planning to do the week before your kick your fundraiser off. If you are located in a small town, this can be a huge blow to your school fundraising success. Try using multiple events to your advantage. This is an excellent way to reach your goal as quickly as possible and spread out some of the risk.
7.) Post Event Analysis
While not part of the actual event planning phase this is something that you should not overlook. Analyze how each of your school fundraising efforts performed. Which ones did your customers like the best? Which the least? Which ones made you the most money? Which ones were the easiest to do? You can use your analysis of your current campaign to enhance future efforts. It is especially helpful to write these things down in a journal for the next board to view in case all the faces on the board change from year to year, they don't have to re-invent the wheel like you did! - 16928
1.) Plan for Success
Efficient planning is an integral part to the success of not only your fundraising campaign but any project you might think of. Without a well thought out plan of action chaos will reign and your project will suffer as a result. In fact, you should have a primary plan as well as a secondary and tertiary as well.
2.) There can be Only One!
It might seem obvious, but, too many chiefs and not enough Indians is a recipe for failure. There really should be only one person is coordinates all the different parts of the planning process for things to gell correctly.
3.) Delegate Responsibility
Give specific tasks to people that you have confidence and trust to get the job completed. When you do your planning create a list of tasks that have to be accomplished and choose the right personnel for each task. Ensure that each of your chosen staff understands that accountability for their assigned task and the buck stops with them.
4.) Promotion is Very Important
Get the word out about your fundraiser. Proper promotion of your event will ensure that you reach your goal. Send out notices to local newspaper and radio stations. Don't forget your own school web page is a great way to post your fundraiser and get the word out about it. The type of fundraiser you are planning will dictate if making flyers and asking local business to put them in their store windows would be helpful. There are a variety of ways to promote your fundraiser and you should take advantage of as many as possible.
5.) Pre-Selling Make a Difference
This tactic will work effectively for any type of fundraising event. If your event is a dance, dinner, guest speaker, or other ticketed type of event you must pre-sell your tickets. Start the revenue stream long before the actual event. When items such as cookie dough are your main product line, start mentioning it to friends, family, and neighbors ahead of time.
6.) Multiple Income Streams
Do not put all of your eggs in one basket. Multiple income streams have been a recipe for success in business for many years and you should be running your fundraiser just like a business. If all of your efforts are concentrated in only one program, then your market may become saturated. You might even have another nearby school start the same thing your were planning to do the week before your kick your fundraiser off. If you are located in a small town, this can be a huge blow to your school fundraising success. Try using multiple events to your advantage. This is an excellent way to reach your goal as quickly as possible and spread out some of the risk.
7.) Post Event Analysis
While not part of the actual event planning phase this is something that you should not overlook. Analyze how each of your school fundraising efforts performed. Which ones did your customers like the best? Which the least? Which ones made you the most money? Which ones were the easiest to do? You can use your analysis of your current campaign to enhance future efforts. It is especially helpful to write these things down in a journal for the next board to view in case all the faces on the board change from year to year, they don't have to re-invent the wheel like you did! - 16928
About the Author:
AIM Fundraising has been working schools in their school fundraising efforts since 1988. Over the years we have gleaned a few things that help to make a fundraiser the best that it can possibly be. Go to AIM Fundraising's website to learn what you can do to make your next school fundraising project even more successful.
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